Amusement device



E. R. MUDDIMAN AMUSEMENT DEVICE Aug. 19, 1958 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed. April 25, 1956 //VVENTOR.' EARLL R. MUDD/MA/V, J

his Attorney Aug. 19, 1958 E. R. MUDDIMAN 2,843,230

AMUSEMENT DEVICE Filed April 25, 1956 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 //v vs/v TOR. EARLL R. MUDD/MAN,

his Attorney.

United rates Patent The present invention relates generally to amusement devices and more particularly to an amusement device consisting of a chain made up of a plurality of links and supports so arranged that when properly operated it appears that a link passes from the top of the chain to the bottom thereof.

It is, accordingly, an object of my invention to provide an amusement device constructed of a plurality of links joined together in an elongated chain in which means are provided whereby the device can be operated by an unskilled person to make it appear that a link A is passing from the top to the bottom of the chain.

It is a further object of my invention to provide an amusement device consisting of a chain of links provided with supports arranged in a manner whereby the supports can be easily manipulated to create the impression of a cascading link in the chain.

The invention will be fully apparent from the follow ing detailed disclosure and the appended claims when read in connection with the accompanying drawings in which:

Figure 1 is a front perspective view showing the device in initial and ultimate stages of operation;

Figure 2 is a view similar to Figure 1 showing the device of the invention in an intermediate stage of operation;

Figure 3 is a front diagrammatic view of a modification of the invention;

Figure 3a is a partial perspective view of a further modification of the invention; and

Figure 4 is a perspective view of another modification of the invention.

Referring more particularly to the drawings reference numeral 2 designates a spiral chain made up of a first link 4, pairs of intermediate links 6, 6; 3, 3; 1t 10 and 12, 12', and a final link 14.

The manner in which the links of the chain 2 are arranged is essential and will now be described. As best shown in Figure 1, the first link 4 passes through both of the first pair of links 6, 6', the latter depending from the former. Link 8 of the second pair of links 8, 8 passes through and depends from both of the first pair of links 6, 6 while link 8' passes through and depends from only link 6 of the first pair of links 6, 6'. Link 8 passes through and supports only link 10 of the third pair of links 10, 10 while link 8' passes through and supports both links 10 and 10' of the third pair. The re maining pairs of links which may be infinite in number are arranged in like manner so that the link in each pair which passes through both of the links of the preceding pair of links passes through only one of the links of the next succeeding pair of links and the link in each pair which passes through only one of the links of the preceding pair of links passes through both of the links of the next succeeding pair of links. The final link 14 passes through and depends from both of the final pair of links 12, 12'.

,Referring to Figures 1 and 2, the chain 2 is suspended from a rod 16 by means of flexible supports 18 and 20 which may be in the form of loops of string, plastic, wire or other similar flexible material. The supports 18 and 20 are each attached by one end to respective ends of the rod 16. The free end of the support 18 is attached to the first link 4 and the free end of support 20 is attached to link 6 of the first pair of links 6, 6.

In initial position one end 18a of rod 16 is tilted above the level of its opposite end 20a so that the chain 2 is supported by support 18 which is attached to link 4, as shown in full lines in Figure 1. In this position support 20 connects link 6 with rod 16 but does not support link 6. When the rod 16 is tilted, as shown by dotted lines in Figure l so that its end 20a is raised above end 18a, the chain is rotated approximately and link 4 falls by gravity into the position initially 0ccupied by link 6 in the chain. This causes link 6 to fall into the position initially occupied by link 8; link 8 into the position initially occupied by link 10; link 11) into the initial position of link 12; and link 12' into the initial position of link 14, all as shown by broken lines in Figure 1. The action just described is a pivoted spiral type and takes place in a fraction of a second so that it appears that link 4 is cascading into the position of link 14. When rod 16 is tilted back to its initial position a similar action takes place which makes it appear that link 6 is cascading to the bottom of the chain.

Figure 2'shows the relative positions of the links after the chain has rotated and link 6' is in the process of falling into the position initially occupied by link d.

Although not essential, a handle 22 may be afiixed to the rod 16, as shown in Figures 1 and 2, to facilitate tilting of the rod 16 to operate the device. If desired, the rod 16 may be connected with power means (not shown) such as a motor driven cam so as to be alternately tilted thereby. The provision of such power means is particularly desirable when it is desired to use the device of the invention as an attention-getter for advertising purposes.

In Figure 3 the chain 2 is shown diagrammatically with its links in neutral-position to illustrate a modified embodiment of the invention. In this embodiment a rigid figure designated by reference numeral 24, is substituted for the rod 16 and supports 18 and 20. One loop 240 of the figurefi passes through link 4 and the other loop 24b passes through link 6. The device operates in the same manner as previously described when the figure-8 is tilted to alternately raise and lower loops 24a and 24b. A handle 26 may be affixed to the figure8 as shown in Figure 3 to facilitate operation of the device. Although I have shown handle 26 projecting in a vertical plane normal to one edge of the figure 8 24, if desired, it may be attached, as shown in Figure 3a and designated 26', so that it extends in a horizontal plane normal to the face of the figure-8. The manner of attachment described for handle 26 facilitates connection with certain types of power means (not shown).

Figure 4 illustrates a further modification of the invention wherein separate rigid handles 28 and. 36 are attached to the supports 13 and 28, respectively. The device operates in the same manner as previously described when the handles 28 and 31) are alternately raised and lowered. Eyelets in the ends of the handles 28 and 30 may be substituted for the supports 18 and 2h.

The links making up the chain of the device must be substantially round to obtain optimum results. Although I have shown the element forming each link as being round in cross-section, it will be noted that the device will function in a satisfactory manner if these elements are not round in cross-section. For example, they may be half round, quarter round, square, rectangular or other noncircular shape in cross-section. In order to insure uniformly efiicient operation of the device of the invention I have found it desirable for the diameter of the element making up each link to be approximately Vs of the outside diameter of the link. However, good results may be obtained if the diameter of the element making up eachlink is between 71 and of the outside diameter of the link. The links may be made of stiff plastic, steel, Wood or any other rigid material desired.

While several embodiments of my invention have been shown and described, it will be apparent that other adaptations and modifications may be made without departing from the scope of the following claims,

I claim:

1. An amusement device comprising a first link, a plu rality of pairs of links, said first link passing through the first pair of links, one of the second pair of links passing through both of the first pair of links and the other of the second pair of links passing through only one of the first pair of links, the first named of said second pair of links passing through only one of the third pair of links and the second named of said second pair of links passing through both of the third pair of links, the remaining pairs of links being arranged in like manner so that the link in each pair passing through both of the links of the preceding pair of links passes through only one of the links of the next succeeding pair of links and the link in each pair passing through only one of the links of the preceding pair of links passes through both of the links of the next succeeding pair of links, a final link passing through both of the final pair of links, a support for said first link, and a support for the link of the first pair of links that passes through only one link of the second pair of links, said supports including an elongated rigid rod, and a pair of elongated flexible connectors attached to said rod one adjacent each end thereof, the free end of one of said connectors being attached to said first link and the free end of the other of said connectors being attached to said only one of said first pair of links having said other of said second pair of links passing therethrough.

2. An amusement device comprising a first link, a plurality of pairs of links, said first link passing through the first pair of links, one of the second pair of links passing through both of the first pair of links and the other of the second pair of links passing through only one of the first pair of links, the first named of said second pair of links passing through only one of the third pair of links and the second named of said second pair of links passing through both of the third pair of links, the remaining pairs of links being arranged in like manner so that the link in each pair passing through both of the links of the preceding pair of links passes through only one of the links of the next succeeding pair of links and the link in each pair passing through only one of the links of the preceding pair of links passes through both of the links of the next succeeding pair of links, a final link passing through both of the final pair of links, a support for said first link, and a support for the link of the first pair of links that passes through only one link of the second pair of links, said supports including a pair of links rigidly joined together in substantially a figure 3 shape, one of the links of said last mentioned pair of links passing through said first link, and said other link of said last named pair passing through said only one of said first pair of links having said other of said second pair of links passing therethrough.

3. An amusement device comprising a first link, a plurality of pairs of links, said first link passing through the first pair of links, one of the second pair of links passing through both of the first pair of links and the other of the second pair of links passing through only one of the first pair of links, the first named of said second pair of links passing through only one of the third pair of links and the second named of said second pair of links passing through both of the third pair of links, the remaining pairs of links being arranged in like manner so that the link in each pair passing through both of the links of the preceding pair of links passes through only one of the links of the next succeeding pair of links and the link in each pair passing through only one of the links of the preceding pair of links passes through both of the links of the next succeeding pair of links, a final link passing through both of the final pair of links, a support for said first link, and a support for the link of the first pair of links that passes through only one link of the second pair of links, said supports including a flexible connector attached by one end to said first link, a second flexible connector attached by one end to said only one of said first pair of links having said other of said second pair of links passing therethrough and a pair of rigid handles each attached to the free end of one of said flexible connectors.

4. An amusement device according to claim 1 characterized by an elongated handle attached to and projecting normally from said rod intermediate the ends thereof whereby said rod may be tilted to alternately raise one end above the other.

5. An amusement device according to claim 2 characterized by anelongated handle attached to and projecting normally from said rigidly joined pair of links intermediate the ends of the figure-8 shape formed thereby whereby the rigidly joined links may be tilted to alternately raise one end of said figure-8 shape above the other.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 584,181 Ley June 8, 1897 1,280,087 Reitz Sept. 24, 1918 FOREIGN PATENTS 396,394 France Jan. 25, 1909 

